How to Formulate Layer Mash in Nigeria for Maximum Egg Production

Last Updated: September 28, 2025

Are you a poultry farmer in Nigeria looking to get more eggs from your layers? The secret is in their food. Making your own layer mash is a great way to control quality, potentially save money, and boost egg production, especially with the rising costs of commercial feeds—a key factor in building a profitable poultry business in Nigeria.

This guide will show you exactly how to make a high-quality 50-kg bag of layer feed. We will cover the best ingredients found in Nigeria, how to source them, how much to feed your hens each day, how to manage the intense Nigerian heat, and give you a realistic breakdown of the costs involved, with insights from bodies like the FAO and NIAS.

Best Layer Feed Formulation: A 50-kg Nigerian Recipe

This recipe is a balanced layer diet designed to give your hens the right energy and nutrients to lay strong-shelled eggs every day. It is formulated to meet the standards set by the NRC (National Research Council) for laying hens. The targets for this 50-kg formula are:

• Crude Protein: 16–18%
• Metabolizable Energy: 2700–2800 kcal/kg
• Calcium: 4.0–4.5%
• Available Phosphorus: 0.35–0.45%

A Note on Phosphorus Levels: The 0.35–0.45% range provides a crucial safety margin. For hens eating a standard 110 grams per day, the actual requirement is closer to 0.30–0.35%. Our formula includes this buffer to ensure your hens get enough phosphorus in grams even during intense heat waves when feed intake can drop significantly.

Understanding the Key Ingredients

• Energy Sources (Maize, Sorghum): Maize is the king of energy. When buying, make sure it is dry and free from black or greenish mould. Low-tannin sorghum (white guinea corn) is a great substitute if maize is too expensive.
• Protein Sources (Soybean Meal, GNC): These are the building blocks for eggs. Well-processed soybean meal provides essential amino acids like lysine. Groundnut cake is also good but requires extreme caution. Nigeria’s warm, humid climate means both groundnut cake and maize routinely report high levels of aflatoxin contamination, a dangerous poison from mould. Always source from trusted suppliers who can provide a Certificate of Analysis (COA) or test results. For pre-harvest control, it’s worth asking your maize supplier if they use IITA’s Aflasafe technology, which helps prevent contamination from the start.
• Calcium Sources (Limestone): You cannot get strong eggshells without enough calcium. A great trick is to use a mix of finely ground limestone and coarse particles (like poultry grit). The fine powder is used by the hen during the day, while the coarse particles are held in her gizzard and digested slowly overnight, providing a steady supply of calcium exactly when the shell is being formed. As your hens get older, the proportion of coarse limestone should increase. For more detail, see our ultimate guide to calcium for chickens.
• Essential Additives: Think of these as the “maggi cube” of the feed. The Layer Premix contains essential vitamins and minerals. The Toxin Binder is not optional in Nigeria’s humid climate; it traps harmful moulds and toxins. The Dicalcium Phosphate (DCP) is your primary source of available phosphorus, which is vital for bone health and metabolism. Our formula provides a safe amount to cover her needs even if heat stress reduces her daily feed intake.

How to Source Quality Ingredients in Nigeria

• Maize: Look for bright yellow or white grains. It should be hard and dry. If you smell a musty, damp odour, reject it.
• Soybean Meal (SBM): Good SBM has a pleasant, nutty smell and a light tan colour. If it smells burnt or is very dark, it has been over-processed, which damages the protein.
• Groundnut Cake (GNC): This is the riskiest ingredient. Always buy from a reputable supplier. A bitter or mouldy smell is a red flag for aflatoxins. Proper sourcing is also your first line of defense in preventing internal parasites and worms.

Scaling the Recipe for Your Farm

Scaling your feed production correctly is important to meet the production goals for 1000 layers or more.

Having the right ingredients is the foundation. Now, let’s look at how to properly combine them.

How to Formulate Layers Mash: Step-by-Step

Formulating feed is like cooking jollof rice. The mixing process is very important.

1. Set Your Goal: Know your birds’ needs. For layers in peak production (25-50 weeks), you need about 16-18% crude protein. For older birds, you might slightly reduce the protein but increase calcium.
2. Start with Major Ingredients: Measure out your maize, soybean meal, GNC, and wheat offal.
3. Create a “Micro-Premix”: Mix the tiny ingredients (salt, premix, methionine, lysine, toxin binder) with 1-2 kg of wheat offal. Mix this small batch very well.
4. Combine Everything: Add your “micro-premix” to the main batch.
5. Add Minerals: Now, add your limestone and dicalcium phosphate (DCP).
6. Mix Thoroughly: Mix for 5-10 minutes. The final mash should have a uniform colour.

From Milling to Storage: Best Practices

• Milling Consistency: For a mash feed, all ingredients should be milled to a similar particle size. If your maize is too coarse and your soya is too fine, the hens may selectively pick out the larger pieces, leading to an unbalanced diet.
• Safe Storage: Once mixed, do not store the feed for more than one to two weeks, especially during the rainy season. Store it in a dry, cool place off the floor on wooden pallets. Use bags that are clean and sealed tightly to keep out moisture, insects, and rodents. Never use feed that smells mouldy or looks caked together.

Common Formulation Mistakes to Avoid

• Inaccurate Measurements: “Eye-balling” is not accurate enough. Always use a scale.
• Poor Mixing: This leads to inconsistent egg production and health issues.
• Ignoring Ingredient Quality: Using mouldy maize will cost you much more in the long run.

Proper formulation is a precise process. Once your feed is perfectly mixed, the next step is to deliver it effectively.

How to Feed Layer Chickens for Maximum Egg Production

Making good feed is only half the job. You also need to manage your farm well to turn that feed into eggs.

When to Start Giving Layers Mash to Chickens?

Knowing the right time to switch your pullets from grower feed to layer mash is crucial for their long-term health and egg production.

• The Ideal Timing: The transition should typically begin when your birds are between 16 and 18 weeks old, or when you see the first egg, whichever comes first. Most modern layer breeds will start laying around this age.
• Why Timing Matters:
  • Starting Too Early: Layer mash has very high calcium content (over 4%). If you give it to pullets that aren’t laying yet, their bodies can’t process the excess calcium, which can lead to kidney damage.
  • Starting Too Late: If you wait too long after they’ve started laying, the hens will deplete their body’s calcium reserves to form eggshells. This can result in weak-shelled eggs, a delay in reaching peak production, and potential bone problems.
• How to Make the Switch: Don’t change the feed overnight. A sudden change can stress the birds. Instead, gradually introduce the layer mash over 7 to 10 days:
  • Days 1-3: Mix 75% grower feed with 25% layer mash.
  • Days 4-6: Mix 50% grower feed with 50% layer mash.
  • Days 7-9: Mix 25% grower feed with 75% layer mash.
  • Day 10: Feed 100% layer mash.

This gradual transition helps their digestive systems adapt smoothly. This timing also leads directly into the pre-lay nutrition strategy discussed next.

Nutrient Needs at Different Laying Stages

• Pre-Lay (16-18 weeks): This is a critical, short phase to prepare the pullet for laying. The goal is to build up her calcium reserves. Commercial guides suggest a diet with 2.0–2.5% calcium. However, some modern research and breed guides suggest that using a higher calcium level (up to 3.8%) during this phase can improve shell quality throughout the entire laying cycle. This special pre-lay feed should only be given for a short period—typically a total of no more than 1 kg per bird before the first egg is laid. Always check the specific recommendations for your layer strain (e.g., Hy-Line, Lohmann).
• Peak Lay (19-50 weeks): Use the main formula in this guide with 16-18% protein and high calcium (4.0-4.5%).
• Late Lay (51 weeks onwards): You can slightly reduce protein but keep calcium high to maintain strong shells.

Mastering Your Lighting Program

Layers need 14 to 16 hours of light per day to produce eggs. In Nigeria, you must add 2-3 extra hours with artificial light.

• A practical schedule: Natural light from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Then, use a bulb to provide extra light from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

Winning the Battle Against Heat Stress

Nigeria is hot. When it’s too hot, chickens eat less and may lay weak-shelled eggs.

• Feed during cooler hours: Feed early in the morning and late in the evening.
• “Midnight Feeding”: During hot spells, use a light for one hour at midnight to encourage eating.
• Provide cool, clean water: Add extra waterers and consider electrolytes. It’s essential to understand what to feed chickens during a heatwave and generally how to manage poultry in the Harmattan season.

Biosecurity: Your Farm’s Best Defence

Disease can wipe out your profits. Adhere to guidelines from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture on farm hygiene.

• Foot Dip: Place a foot dip with a quality disinfectant at the entrance of every poultry house. Ensure it’s changed regularly.
• Restrict Access: Limit visitors strictly. Do not allow vehicles or people from other farms near your flock.
• Cleanliness is Key: Regularly clean and disinfect drinkers, feeders, and the entire poultry house between flocks.
• Separate Ages: If possible, keep birds of different ages in separate locations to prevent diseases from spreading from older birds to younger ones. For a complete checklist, follow a comprehensive poultry farm biosecurity plan.

Now, let’s determine exactly how much of this feed your flock needs each day.

How Many Layers Mash per Hen per Day? Intake, Water, Heat Stress

A healthy laying hen (like Hy-Line or Lohmann breeds) will eat about 100 to 120 grams of layer mash per day.

Water: The Most Important Nutrient

Water is more important than feed. A hen’s water needs change dramatically with the temperature.

• Normal Weather (~21°C): Hens drink about twice as much water as the feed they eat (a 2:1 ratio).
• Hot Nigerian Weather: This ratio can easily climb to 3:1 or even 5:1.
• Extreme Heat Wave (~38°C): In extreme heat, they might drink up to 8 times the weight of their feed.

Actionable Tips for Water Management:

• Clean your drinkers every single day to prevent bacteria.
• In the mid-afternoon on a very hot day, flush the water lines to provide cooler water for the birds.
• If you use nipple drinkers, check the flow rate. It should be at least 70 mL per minute to allow hens to drink easily.

But what if you’re doing everything right and still not getting the results you want?

How to Increase Egg Production in Layers in Nigeria

To get the most eggs from your layers, follow these simple rules:

1. Consistent, Quality Feed: Use the formula above and ensure 100-120g intake each day.
2. Steady Light: Maintain 14-16 hours of light every single day.
3. Cool, Clean Water: Water helps with digestion and keeps birds cool.
4. Fight Heat Stress: Feed during cooler hours.
5. Provide Coarse Limestone: Give it in the afternoon feed for stronger shells tomorrow. For older hens (from about 38 weeks onwards), a proven strategy to maintain strong shells is to ensure that 60–75% of the limestone in their diet consists of coarse particles (2–4 mm in size). This provides a slow-release source of calcium that works all night long.
6. Prevent Feed Wastage: Adjust feeders to be at the level of the birds’ backs.
7. Keep Good Records: Track your daily egg count, feed intake, and mortality.

Troubleshooting Common Egg Quality Problems

• Weak or Shell-less Eggs: This is a calcium issue. Double-check your limestone and DCP measurements.
• Small Eggs: This can be caused by low protein or amino acids. Ensure your methionine and lysine levels are correct.
• Pale Yolks: This is not a health issue but can affect market value. It’s caused by a lack of natural pigments (xanthophylls). Including high-quality yellow maize or adding a natural source like dried marigold petals can help.
• Watery Whites (Albumen): This can be a sign of disease (like Infectious Bronchitis) or simply older age. Knowing about treating common respiratory infections is important.
• Wet Droppings: While sometimes caused by disease, it can also be a nutritional issue. Excess salt in the formulation is a common cause. Double-check your salt measurement.
• Egg Eating: If you notice this behaviour, you need to act fast. Here are some tips to stop chickens from eating their own eggs.

A key part of success is understanding the financial side.

Layer Mash Feed 50 kg Price in Nigeria

Updated Monthly

The price of a 50 kg bag of layer mash changes often. It depends on the season and price of maize and soya in markets in Lagos, Kano, and Abuja.

As of September 2025, the estimated price for a 50 kg bag of commercially produced layer mash is between ₦45,000 and ₦55,000.

To give a real-world example, as of September 2025, a product like “Top Feeds Layer-2 Mash” was priced on the online retailer Afrimash at ₦22,620 for a 25 kg bag. This means 50 kg would cost approximately ₦45,240, fitting within our estimated range. However, this is just one example—prices change quickly and vary by state. To manage your expenses more precisely, you can use our detailed chicken feed calculator.

• Cost per Hen per Day = (Price of 50kg Bag / 50,000 grams) x 110 grams
• Example: If a bag is ₦50,000, the cost is (₦50,000 / 50,000) x 110 = ₦110 per hen per day.

Always check current prices from local suppliers or online stores like Afrimash for the latest information. Keeping an eye on the market price of maize and soybean meal can help you predict when feed prices might rise or fall.

Understanding the cost helps you decide if making your own feed is the right choice for your farm.

Commercial Layer Feed Formulation vs. DIY: Pros and Cons

Should you buy ready-made feed or make it yourself?

Buying Commercial Feed:

• Pros: Saves time, consistent quality.
• Cons: More expensive, less control.

Making Your Own (DIY):

• Pros: Control over quality, can be cheaper in bulk.
• Cons: Takes time and effort, requires a machine, which you can factor into your costs by checking a poultry equipment price list.

Who Should Make Their Own Feed?

DIY feed formulation is best for farmers with at least 500 birds. It is for farmers who have a reliable source of good quality ingredients. The decision is a core part of running a profitable layer farming business in Nigeria. Note that the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) regulates the feed industry in Nigeria.

Layer Feed Formulation PDF Free Download

For a handy, printable version of this guide that you can take with you, download our free Layer Feed Formulation Guide for Nigerian Poultry Farmers PDF. It includes the complete 50-kg recipe, the scaling chart, and a quick-reference checklist for feeding and management. This makes it easy to have the right information on hand at the market or on the farm. Download the Layer Feed Formulation PDF Guide

Handbook of Poultry Farming and Feed Formulations PDF Free Download

Ready to go deeper? Get our complete mini-handbook for Nigerian poultry farmers. This free PDF is a more detailed resource covering everything from advanced feed formulation concepts to biosecurity protocols and disease prevention, all tailored for Nigerian conditions. Download the Handbook of Poultry Farming PDF

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Final Thoughts

Formulating your own layer mash is a journey that puts you in complete control of your flock’s nutrition and your farm’s profitability. It requires careful attention to detail, sourcing quality ingredients, and consistent management. By following this guide, you have a solid foundation to produce high-quality feed that will lead to more eggs, healthier birds, and a more successful poultry business in Nigeria.

Start small, keep accurate records, and always observe your birds—they will tell you if the feed is working. Happy formulating!

Oladepo

Oladepo Babatunde is the founder of ChickenStarter.com. He is a backyard chicken keeper and educator who specializes in helping beginners raise healthy flocks, particularly in warm climates. His expertise comes from years of hands-on experience building coops, treating common chicken ailments, and solving flock management issues. His own happy hens are a testament to his methods, laying 25-30 eggs weekly.